All the commendatory verses at the beginning of Lyte's herbal are in Latin, except some lines in which William Clowes speaks of writing about herbs as "a fit occupation for gentlemen and wights of worthy fame," and recalls the great men who have immortalised themselves thereby, notably Gentius, Lysimachus, Mythridates and Dioscorides. Then, after giving due praise to Dodoens, "Whose learned skill hath offered first this worthy worke to vewe," Clowes ends with four lines in which he plays upon the name of the translator: "And Lyte, whose toyle hath not bene light to dye it in this grayne, Deserves no light regarde of us: but thankes and thankes agayne. And sure I am all English hartes that lyke of Physickes lore Will also lyke this gentleman: and thanke hym muche therefore." The herbal is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth "as the best token of love and diligence that I am at this time able to shew.... And doubtless if my skill in the translation were answerable to the worthynesse eyther of the Historie itselfe or of the Authours thereof I doubt not but I should be thought to haue honoured your Maiestie with an acceptable present." The preface is dated from "my poore house at Lytes carie within your Maiesties Countie of Somerset the first day of Januarie MDLXXVIII." In 1606 there appeared the book commonly known as _Ram's little Dodoen_. It purported to be an epitome of Lyte's _Dodoens_, but, though some of its matter has been abridged from Dodoens's work, it is in reality a compilation of recipes unworthy of the great name it bears. In his preface the author tells us: "I have bestowed some tyme in reducing the most exquisit new herball or history of plants (first set forth in Dutch and Almayne tongue by the learned and worthy man of famous memory Dr. Rembert Dodeon (_sic_) Phisician to the Emperor, and translated into English by Master Henry Lyte Esq.), with a brief and short epitome ... so as where the great booke at large is not to be had but at a great price, which cannot be procured by the poorer sort, my endevor herein hath bin chiefly to make the benefit of so good, necessary and profitable a worke to be brought within the reach and compasse as well of you my poore countrymen and women whose lives, healths, ease and welfare is to be regarded with the rest, at a smaller price than the great volume is. My onely and greatest care hath byn of long tyme to knowe or thinke how and upon whome to bestow the dedication of this my small labour. And in the penning of this my letter my Affections are satisfied with the dedication thereof to these my poore and loving countrymen whosoever and to whose hands soever it may come. For whose sake I have desired publicatiō of the same, beseeching Almighty God to blesse us all."